‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to scoring with Athletic

Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker played in England, an young appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they took him off.

“I was furious,” the Athletic striker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”

Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash

At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is about to start; after it, the short journey to the airport and a further journey to England, this time to face Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, due in part to the demands of their participation. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. However, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.

In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after making his senior debut in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and my knee gave way.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.

“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

Game time is essential. He left emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears where you play, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|